Obituary: Betty Joe CountzBetty Joe Countz, 89, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2014, at her home. She was born April 29, 1925, to Thomas (T.J.) and Mary Raines Malone in Odell, Texas. Betty loved spending her time reading and watching baseball. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Roy Lee Countz; one son, John Lee Countz; and two sisters, Pat Williams and Lahoma Bewley. She was survived by two sons, Tony Countz and Ken Countz; one daughter, Sandy Howa...

Obituary: Beth NaylorDARDANELLE — Beth Paige Naylor, 59, of Dardanelle died Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2014, at the Deerview Nursing Center under the care of Arkansas Hospice. She was born Dec. 30, 1954, at Fort Chaffee to Keith W. and Polly J. George Benefield. She was a member of the Dardanelle First Baptist Church, a master gardener and loved photography. Thousands of pictures covered her walls. She was preceded in death by her father, Keith Benefield; and her son, Casey...

Obituary: Wesley LewallenATKINS — Wesley Thomas Lewallen, infant son of Clay and Lisa Clayton Lewallen, was born and died Aug. 1, 2014, at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Russellville. He was preceded in death by a brother, Aron Wesley Shaddon; three grandparents, Clem Lewallen, Wesley D. Clayton and Louise Clayton; one uncle, Randy J. Lewallen; and a cousin, Randall D. Lewallen. He is survived by his parents; four brothers, Joseph Clayton, Andrew Lewallen, Cl...

Obituary: Virginia TwillaHEAVENER, Okla. — Virginia Gayle Twilla of Poteau, Okla., formerly of Heavener, Okla., was born July 25, 1960, in Cuba, N.M., to Lossie Ernest Haney Jr. and Jean Lavern Peterson and departed this life July 31, 2014, in Fort Smith at the age of 54. She is survived by one daughter, Alica Dixon and husband Marlon of Fort Coffee, Okla.; two sons, Justin Twilla and wife Bri of Fort Smith and Levi Earley and wife Kelli of Heavener, Okla.; her father...

Obituary: Winton HillDANVILLE — Winton Lee “Bud” Hill, 82, of Casa passed away Sunday, Aug. 3, 2014. He was born Nov. 20, 1931, in Casa to the late Norman and Goldie George Hill. He was an Army veteran and a retired carpenter. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Joella Hill; son, Paul Hill; and sister, Esther Rainey. Survivors include his son, Mike and Pamela Hill of Birta; daughters, Kathy and Larry Sales of Bauxite, Debbie and Terry McCutcheon of Harriso...

Obituary: Mary OmedeoDARDANELLE — Mary Onola Omedeo, 90, of Delaware died Monday, Aug. 4, 2014, at Arkansas Hospice River Valley Home. She was born Sept. 8, 1923, at Waynesboro, Tenn., to the late John Edward and Dorothy Elizabeth Helton Nowlin. She was of the Church of Christ faith and loved to go fishing, take care of animals and cook. She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Harvey Huff; her second husband, Willie Omedeo; one sister, Ercle R...

Obituary: Debra HaslipLITTLE ROCK — Debra Ann (Debbie) Wilson Haslip, 55, passed away Aug. 1, 2014, at Beebe Nursing Home. She was born April 6, 1959. Debbie was preceded in death by her mother, Dorothy Wilson, and the father of her children, Billy Joe Haslip. She is survived by her father, Billy Wilson of Dover; brother, Terry Wilson of Alexandria, Va.; sister, Sandy Wilson Wilhite of Cotter; three children, Brian Haslip of San Diego, Calif., Deedra Haslip of Russ...

Obituary: Travis MusgroveDARDANELLE — Travis Winston Musgrove, 79, of Dardanelle died Saturday, Aug. 2, 2014. He was born Nov. 6, 1934, at Conroe, Texas, to the late Wayland and Marie Seale Musgrove. He attended the Russellville Church of Christ. He was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Mary Kathryn Musgrove of Dardanelle; son and daughter-in-law, Keith and Carol Musgrove of Dardanelle; daughter and son-in-law, Debbie and Charle...

Obituary: Burgess BrashearATKINS — Burgess Brashear, 81, of Atkins went to be with the Lord on Aug. 1, 2014, at the Atkins Nursing Center. He was born Sept. 27, 1932, in Pope County, son of the late Burgess E. Sr. and Helen Allen Brashear. He was a member and Sunday school teacher at Union Grove Free Will Baptist Church. He loved the outdoors. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elouise Brashear; two brothers, Bob Brashear and Tommy Brashear; and a grandson, Blake Em...

Obituary: Kenneth CrowKenneth L. Crow, 73, of Dover died Sunday, Aug. 3, 2014, at the Arkansas Hospice River Valley Home in Russellville. He was born Sept. 6, 1940, in Centerville to Walker and Alma Scott Crow. He retired from Entergy and loved the outdoors. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Robert Crow. Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Nan Crow of Dover; one son, Jason Crow of Fort Smith; and one sister and brother-in-law, Freeda and ...

Obituary: Laveta KeetonDARDANELLE — Laveta Jewell Keeton, “Hootie,” age 89 of Maumelle, died Thursday, July 31, 2014. Mom was born Dec. 1, 1924, at Russellville to the late Walter Herbert and Leona Eubanks Nichols. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in West Memphis, a 1942 graduate of Dardanelle high School and Arkansas Tech University, where she earned a BSE and a Master’s degree in elementary education. Mother utilized her education as a fifth-g...

Obituary: Amy DoepelAmy Doepel, 39, of Russellville died Friday, Aug. 1, 2014, at her home. She was born Feb. 22, 1975, in Russellville to Robert G. Doepel and Peggy Sue Huffman. She was of the Lutheran Faith and enjoyed camping, canoeing and reading. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Frank and Lydia Doepel and J.E. Huffman. Survivors include parents, Robert G. and Susan Doepel, and Peggy Sue Huffman; children, Megan Nichole Mauldin and Trae Ethan Sc...

Obituary: Kenneth WilliamsDARDANELLE — Marion Kenneth Williams, 65, of Russellville died Wednesday, July 30, 2014, at the VA Hospital in Little Rock. He was born Aug. 3, 1948, at Little Rock to the late Oliver Marion and Dottie Maudie Bailey Williams. He attended the Maple Springs Freewill Baptist Church in Russellville, was a truck driver and a United States Navy veteran of the Vietnam War. He loved to go fishing, hunting and being in the outdoors. He was preceded in ...

Obituary: Lillian CouchLillian Neal Couch, 94, of Greenwood Village, Colo., died Thursday, July 31, 2014, at the Heritage Club at Greenwood Village. She was born Sept. 19, 1919, in Russellville to George Samuel and Lila Emison Neal. She was a member of the United Methodist Church and a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority. She grew up in Russellville, attended Arkansas Tech University and graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor’s degree in business. ...

Obituary: Jewell CollinsJewell Mae Collins, 80, of Russellville went to be with the Lord on Thursday, July 31, 2014. She was born March 4, 1934, in Dover to Elton Euin and Etter Mae Sims Brown. Jewell was first and foremost a homemaker and always put her family first. In her early years, she worked in the cafeteria at Crawford Elementary School and Van Atkins Clothing Store and was a volunteer for Main Street Mission. She was a member of the First Pentecostal Church ...

Obituary: Kenneth ParkerLITTLE ROCK — Kenneth Whitten Parker, 85, of Little Rock died Wednesday, July 30, 2014. The rosary will be prayed at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 4 at St. Edward Catholic Church (801 Sherman St.), and a Mass of Christian burial will follow at 2 p.m. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery. To read a complete obituary, please visit our website at www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com.

Obituary: Elfriede SimpsonElfriede “Frieda” Simpson, 84, of Russellville died July 27, 2014, in Little Rock. She was born April 12, 1930, in Vienna, Austria, to Elisabeth Tatzler. After moving to the United States in 1950, Frieda was very determined to become a U.S. citizen, which took five years to accomplish. She was Roman Catholic by faith. Frieda was preceded in death by her mother and one son, Billy Wade Simpson of Florida. When Frieda was young, her mother wanted...

Obituary: Betty AlewineBetty Dean Mullins Alewine, 84, of Russellville died Wednesday, July 30, 2014, at her home. She was born Nov. 12, 1929, in Center Valley to Merrill Haynie and Noma Vestal Barnett Mullins. She was a member of the former Center Valley Methodist Church and formerly attended First Assembly of God. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, William James Alewine; and a daughter, Martha Jean Smoke. Survivors include two daughters and son...

Obituary: Lorene PeltDARDANELLE — Lorene Pelt passed away July 29, 2014, at Deerview Health Care in Ola. She was born Dec. 7, 1924, in Aly to Ola Lambert. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Plainview where she taught Sunday School for many years. She was a past member of the Plainview EH Club and served on the Yell County Cancer Board. She and J. Dee owned Pelt Discount Store in Plainview from 1970-84. She is preceded in death by her mother and her husban...

Obituary: Doris McAlisterPFLUGERVILLE, Texas — Doris Ruth Crowder McAlister, beautiful wife, loving and devoted mother, 84, of Austin, Texas, passed away on July 28, 2014. Doris was born on May 24, 1930, in Adona. She was preceded in death by her parents, W.A. Crowder and Lottie McGhee Crowder; sister, Rachel Williams; and brothers, Dale and Don Crowder. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Kerry Lavan McAlister of Austin, Texas; sister, Reba Kathryn Young of T...